In some embodiments, a system may reduce contaminants in water. A system
may include a biofilm in a container. The biofilm may be formed from one
or more bacteria coupled to one or more substrates. The bacteria may be
selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. The system
may include one or more bacteria generators to provide bacteria to the
biofilm and/or one or more air sources to provide an air bubble stream to
the container and/or the bacteria generator. In some embodiments,
bacteria may be preserved in a starvation phase. Bacteria may be
incubated until they reach a starvation phase. The bacteria may then be
preserved as beads or immobilized on a substrate. The preserved bacteria
may be used in a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.